Library - Volunteers - Friends Groups

Three different ways to support your library are highlighted on this page. First, by joining a local friends of the library group, secondly making a financial gift to the library and finally in-library volunteer work.

Join Your Local Friends Group

Friends of the Library - Vestal Foundation

Vestal Foundation

When the time is right for you to consider financial gifts to the library,
the Vestal Foundation is ready to assist you.

Siskiyou County Library Vestal Foundation
PO Box 117, Yreka, CA 96097

The Foundation's Purpose

The Siskiyou County Library Vestal Foundation, formed in 1997, is a tax-exempt nonprofit corporation governed by a volunteer Board of Directors. Its purpose is to enhance library services, primarily through securing and using endowments. A donation to the Foundation constitutes a charitable gift for income tax purposes. It is not the purpose of the Foundation to replace traditional funding, nor is it meant to replace Friends groups and their contributions to their local libraries.

The Foundation's Name

Ed Vestal, a former Montague resident, helped to establish the Foundation by leaving approximately $57,000 to Siskiyou County, to be given to a library foundation once it was established. The Foundation Board proudly honored Mr. Vestal's request to have the Foundation named after him. Income from this account is used for computers, furniture and books for the Yreka Library, as stipulated by Mr. Vestal.

Why Endowments?

An endowment fund is a permanent investment account. As a result, the fund remains in existence indefinitely, creating a legacy for the future.

Only the income earned is distributed, with a part of that held out to help the fund grow.

Each branch library in Siskiyou County has an endowment fund with the Vestal Foundation. Anyone may contribute any amount to one of these funds for the benefit of that library.

An endowment fund also exists for the County Library, to provide for needs of the entire library system.

Expenditures from the funds are determined by the donor's wishes, by recommendations from Friends of Library groups, and by needs expressed by library staff.

Outright gifts, instead of endowments, may also be made to the County Library or any of its branches through the Foundation.

Planned giving can be tailored to fit the intent of the donor:

Unrestricted Funds: The Foundation is authorized to allocate gifts to any of the Siskiyou County Library branches.

Field of Interest Funds: : Income from the fund is restricted to one or more fields of interest, such as the purchase of books, equipment or special projects. The Foundation then disperses the funds to the appropriate programs.

Designated Funds: The fund is for a specific branch library. These are typical funds that can be established through the Foundation. There are many ways to establish endowments, and the wishes of the donor are the primary concern of the Foundation. Options for planned giving exist that provide estate tax advantages, give you an income during your lifetime, or provide benefits to the Foundation as well as your heirs. Your financial advisor can help you determine appropriate ways of giving.

Purpose and goals: The specific and primary purposes are to help the Dunsmuir Library serve the community and make the public aware of the services and facilities offered by the Library. The Friends also encourages gifts to the Library and stimulate volunteer service on its behalf. All funds from the organization's endeavors are used for the betterment of the Library.

Goals: To promote and encourage the use of the Etna Branch Library through the promotion of literacy endeavors, increasing educational and cultural opportunities for the community and providing increased exposure to books and related materials for children and youth as well as adults. And to provide supplemental, financial support to the Etna Branch Library.

Last updated February 2017

Friends of the Library - Fort Jones

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President: Leslie Burkhart

Contact phone: 530-468-5647

Meetings: Annual meeting second Wednesday in January

Friends of the Library - Happy Camp Library Association

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President: Barbara Thrasher

Contact address: Box 317 Happy Camp, California 96039

Meetings: 3rd Tuesday of January, April, July, and October

Friends of the Library - McCloud

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President: Tom Evans

Volunteer contact: To come

Meetings: 2nd Thursday of Feb,June and October at 11:00 a.m. at the Library. Annual meeting held in June.

Purpose and Goals: To support the McCloud Library Programs and provide funds for additional projects. Holds annual book sale at the McCloud Flea Market, the first Sunday in June each year on Main Street, McCloud.

Purpose and goals: To support the basic programs of the Library and provide funds for additional projects.

Last updated September 2017

In-Library Volunteer Work

There are many opportunities for people to work on volunteer tasks within the library. Some examples include: shelving, book repair, cleaning, shelf reading, etc. Please inquire with your local branch librarian to learn more about how you can help your public library.